Four rock and roll greats pass on

Four major rock and roll names of the fifties and early sixties have died in recent days.

Herb Cox is the latest to have died, at the age of 80. Lead singer of the Cleftones since 1955, Herb was a regular at the Long Island Doowop weekend in recent years and I also saw him at Viva Las Vegas in 2015 (pictured above) when he memorably appeared alongside Eugene Pitt and Bobby Lewis. The Cleftones began as New York high school group the Silvertones but changed their name when they recorded 'Gee' for George Goldner in 1955. Other doowop classics included 'This Little Girl of Mine', 'You Baby You' and 'Can't We Be Sweethearts' whilst a second generation of the group, still featuring Herb on lead, had hits with 'Heart and Soul' and 'For Sentimental Reasons'.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5w8Dr45Sls

Another fifties rock and roll act who I saw at Viva Las Vegas was rockabilly pioneer Rudy 'Tutti' Grayzell, who has died aged 86. Originally from Texas where he sang with a country group he recorded rockabilly hits including 'Let's Get Wild' and 'Duck Tail'  and toured with Elvis. The photo above shows him appearing at Viva Las Vegas in 2018.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GejtyaTt31o
The third rock and roll pioneer to have passed on is Jimmy Cavallo, aged 92, a sax player who played R and B in the Carolinas as far back as the late 1940s. He became famous when he and his band the House Rockers appeared with Alan Freed in the movie 'Rock Rock Rock', playing the title song. They were the first white band to play the Harlem Apollo and appeared in a second movie 'Go Johnny Go'. He continued to play his home town Syracuse in New York for many years and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and also appeared at the Rhythm Riot in the UK in 2002.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHBFv53K5k
Yet another rock and roll artist to have died in recent days is Jerry Naylor, 80, who was lead vocalist of the Crickets in the early 60s. Originally a DJ and engineer with a country radio station in Texas which was linked with one in Buddy Holly's home town of Lubbock, he was invited to become lead singer of the Crickets by Jerry Allison and went on to sing lead on many of the band's wonderful Liberty hits of the era, including 'Don't Ever Change' and 'My Little Girl'.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w10t8kOtiA
Away from music, the last few weeks have seen the deaths of Australian broadcaster and writer Clive James, member of the 'Beyond The Fringe' review Jonathan Miller and TV chef Gary Rhodes at the age of just 59. As ever, the winter is taking its toll and The Vinyl Word raises a glass to them all. May they Rest in Peace.